--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: He had a glimpse at the figure that…" description: "\"“He had a glimpse at the figure that flitted through the smoking rooms and pages of cheap fiction -a pitiable fellow in his middle age, seeking to rene..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/02b/john-williams-3311_gossip_he-had-a-glimpse-at-the-figure-that-flit_956269.jpg" --- # He had a glimpse at the figure that flitted through the… ![“He had a glimpse at the figure that flitted through the smoking rooms and pages of cheap fiction -a pitiable fellow in his middle age, seeking to renew his youth by taking up with a girl who was much younger ... a fatuous, garishly got up clown at whom the world laughed out of discomfort, pity…” quote by John Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/02b/john-williams-3311_gossip_he-had-a-glimpse-at-the-figure-that-flit_956269.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/02b/john-williams-3311_gossip_he-had-a-glimpse-at-the-figure-that-flit_956269.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/02b/john-williams-3311_gossip_he-had-a-glimpse-at-the-figure-that-flit_956269.jpg) > ““He had a glimpse at the figure that flitted through the smoking rooms and pages of cheap fiction -a pitiable fellow in his middle age, seeking to renew his youth by taking up with a girl who was much younger ... a fatuous, garishly got up clown at whom the world laughed out of discomfort, pity, and contempt. He looked at this figure as closely as he could; but the longer he looked the less familiar it became. It was not himself that he saw, and he knew suddenly that it was no-one.”” [John Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-williams/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The narrator sees his own reflection dissolve into a stranger, illustrating how chasing youth through younger partners leads to loss of self. **In simple terms:** Chasing youth erodes identity. Key Takeaway Beware of losing yourself in pursuit of youth. Themes identity age illusion self‑perception Mood melancholic introspective Type literary psychological When to use this quote - midlife crisis counseling - creative writing - psychotherapy Key Concepts youth obsession self‑estrangement psychological decay Questions to Reflect On - What does “no‑one” represent in your life? - How can one retain self while embracing change? A Different Perspective If the younger partner is genuine, the loss may be less severe. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Clown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/clown/) [Contempt Looked](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/contempt-looked-1738154/) [Figure Flitted](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/figure-flitted-1738155/) [Glimpse Figure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/glimpse-figure-1738156/) [Gossip](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gossip/) [Looked Figure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/looked-figure-1738153/) [Love affair](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love-affair/) [Middle age](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/middle-age/) [Self image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/self-image/) [Stoner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stoner/) ## Related quotes > [“It had not occurred to him how he must appear to an outsider, to the world. For a moment he saw himself as he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-williams/it-had-not-occurred-to-him-how-he-must-appear-to-an-outsider-to-the/) [John Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-williams/) > [“But don't you know, Mr Stoner?' Sloane asked. 'Don't you understand about yourself yet? You're going to be a teacher.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-williams/but-don-t-you-know-mr-stoner-sloane-asked-don-t-you-understand-about-2/) [John Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-williams/) > [“Because in the long run' Stoner said, 'it isn't Edith or even Grace, or the certainty of losing Grace, that keeps me here; it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-williams/because-in-the-long-run-stoner-said-it-isn-t-edith-or-even-grace-or/) [John Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-williams/) > [“Stoner was one of the pallbearers at the funeral. At the services he could not keep his mind on the words the minister said,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-williams/stoner-was-one-of-the-pallbearers-at-the-funeral-at-the-services-he/) [John Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-williams/) > [This 4/20, good luck blaming your bloodshot eyes on allergy season.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/this-4-20-good-luck-blaming-your-bloodshot-eyes-on-allergy-season/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Ever noticed that people who believe in Creationism look really unevolved?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/ever-noticed-that-people-who-believe-in-creationism-look-really/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Keep calm and pass the weed on.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashley-rosales/keep-calm-and-pass-the-weed-on/) [Ashley Rosales](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashley-rosales/) > [Nothing says 'I love you' like a bag of weed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/nothing-says-i-love-you-like-a-bag-of-weed/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Some people go to high school... others go to school high.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/some-people-go-to-high-school-others-go-to-school-high/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“A token of bathroom stoner etiquette.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/libba-bray/a-token-of-bathroom-stoner-etiquette/) [Libba Bray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/libba-bray/) > [Weed is from the earth. God put this here for me and you. Take advantage man, take advantage. -Smokey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friday/weed-is-from-the-earth-god-put-this-here-for-me-and-you-take/) [Friday](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friday/) > [Marijuana saved my life. I have no doubts about it and you dont need to show me any data.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-scott/marijuana-saved-my-life-i-have-no-doubts-about-it-and-you-dont-need/) [Greg Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-scott/) > [I was gonna make love to you, but then I got high. I was gonna eat yo pussy too, but then I got high.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/afroman/i-was-gonna-make-love-to-you-but-then-i-got-high-i-was-gonna-eat-yo/) [Afroman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/afroman/) > [If weed is a plant and plants are life...then wouldn't smoking weed be getting high on life?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/if-weed-is-a-plant-and-plants-are-life-then-wouldn-t-smoking-weed-be/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Penalties against possession of a drug should not be more damaging to an individual than the use of the drug itself, and where they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-carter/penalties-against-possession-of-a-drug-should-not-be-more-damaging-to/) [Jimmy Carter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-carter/) ## More by John Williams > [“She was, he knew- and had known very early, he supposed- one of those rare and always lovely humans whose moral nature was so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-williams/she-was-he-knew-and-had-known-very-early-he-supposed-one-of-those/) [John Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-williams/) > [“What you seem so unwilling to accept, even now, is this: that the ideals which supported the old Republic had no correspondence to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-williams/what-you-seem-so-unwilling-to-accept-even-now-is-this-that-the-ideals/) [John Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-williams/) > [“It's for us that the University exists, for the dispossessed of the world; not for the students, not for the selfless pursuit of knowledge,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-williams/it-s-for-us-that-the-university-exists-for-the-dispossessed-of-the/) [John Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-williams/) > [I don't make a particular distinction between 'high art' and 'low art.' Music is there for everybody. It's a river we can all put…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-williams/i-don-t-make-a-particular-distinction-between-high-art-and-low-art/) [John Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-williams/) > [“Dispassionately, reasonably, he contemplated the failutre that his life must appear to be. He had wanted friendship and the closeness of friendship that might…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-williams/dispassionately-reasonably-he-contemplated-the-failutre-that-his-life/) [John Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-williams/) > [“Six times during my life has this tomb of my soul led me to the brink of that eternal darkness into which all men…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-williams/six-times-during-my-life-has-this-tomb-of-my-soul-led-me-to-the-brink/) [John Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-williams/) > [“But I can see what has ensued. 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I have not looked at the 'Star Wars' films, and that's absolutely true.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-williams/i-let-it-go-i-have-not-looked-at-the-star-wars-films-and-that-s/) [John Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-williams/) > [You never write a theme for a movie thinking, 'This will live forever.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-williams/you-never-write-a-theme-for-a-movie-thinking-this-will-live-forever/) [John Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-williams/) > [“For a few moments in the evening, then, they talked quietly and casually, as if they were old friends or exhausted enemies.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-williams/for-a-few-moments-in-the-evening-then-they-talked-quietly-and/) [John Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-williams/) > [Composing music is hard work.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-williams/composing-music-is-hard-work/) [John Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-williams/) > [I honestly haven't done all that counting. It always feels new and a wonderful honor to receive these things. It's a fresh feeling.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-williams/i-honestly-haven-t-done-all-that-counting-it-always-feels-new-and-a/) [John Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-williams/) > [In general, we continue to believe that local governments should not have a competitive advantage when competing with the private sector, and they should…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-williams/in-general-we-continue-to-believe-that-local-governments-should-not/) [John Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-williams/) > [“Saying, ain’t doing.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-williams/saying-ain-t-doing/) [John Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-williams/) > [There is no proof that carbon dioxide is causing or precedes global warming…All indications are that the minor warming cycle finished in 2001 and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-williams/there-is-no-proof-that-carbon-dioxide-is-causing-or-precedes-global/) [John Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-williams/) [Explore all 122 John Williams quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-williams/) ## More Clown quotes > [“October 3, 2017 The clown, Hagarty said, looked like a cross between Ronald McDonald and that old TV clown, Bozo—or so he thought at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-king/october-3-2017-the-clown-hagarty-said-looked-like-a-cross-between/) [Stephen King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-king/) > [There are two types of people in this world. People who hate clowns...and clowns. (Bobby Pendragon)](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/d-j-machale-2/there-are-two-types-of-people-in-this-world-people-who-hate-clowns/) [D. J. MacHale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/d-j-machale-2/) > [I wanted to be a clown when I was a kid, so I love interacting and goofing around with kids.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-stonestreet/i-wanted-to-be-a-clown-when-i-was-a-kid-so-i-love-interacting-and/) [Eric Stonestreet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-stonestreet/) > [When fighting clowns, always go for the juggler.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/darynda-jones/when-fighting-clowns-always-go-for-the-juggler/) [Darynda Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/darynda-jones/) > [I try to be the clown and court jester and make people laugh. At the same time, you have people in the hospital who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-simmons/i-try-to-be-the-clown-and-court-jester-and-make-people-laugh-at-the/) [Richard Simmons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-simmons/) > [He's fat and a clown, Bill, a fat clown for all to see.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eamon-dunphy/he-s-fat-and-a-clown-bill-a-fat-clown-for-all-to-see/) [Eamon Dunphy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eamon-dunphy/) > [You know, I was the class clown in Catholic school, but I never thought I would make a living out of it!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sofia-vergara/you-know-i-was-the-class-clown-in-catholic-school-but-i-never-thought/) [Sofia Vergara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sofia-vergara/) > [You see, this heart, won't settle down; just like a child, running, scared, from a clown. Demi Lovato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/demi-lovato/you-see-this-heart-won-t-settle-down-just-like-a-child-running-scared/) [Demi Lovato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/demi-lovato/) > [Circus clown. That's a new one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/circus-clown-that-s-a-new-one/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [When I first started getting into acting, I was doing improv in acting class, and I had done a serious monologue and everyone was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miles-teller/when-i-first-started-getting-into-acting-i-was-doing-improv-in-acting/) [Miles Teller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miles-teller/) > [Writing is for men who can think and feel, not mindless sensation seekers out of nightclubs and bars. But these are bad times. We…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naguib-mahfouz/writing-is-for-men-who-can-think-and-feel-not-mindless-sensation/) [Naguib Mahfouz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naguib-mahfouz/) > [“If i'm gonna be described as a clown for my actions, I might aswell be a whole circus”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bee/if-i-m-gonna-be-described-as-a-clown-for-my-actions-i-might-aswell-be/) [Bee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bee/) > [I had a dream that a clown named dimples keep leaving the radio on in my room](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-had-a-dream-that-a-clown-named-dimples-keep-leaving-the-radio-on-in/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Is that love? 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